Front Cover: Financing ageing societies and keeping the elderly active and engaged will be a growing concern among regional countries. The picture on the Annual Report front cover continues the practice of identifying a regional challenge, which is also reflected in the ISEAS research agenda. (Courtesy of Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.) FrontCvr AR07-08.indd 2 7/8/08 10:44:08 AM A REGIONAL RESEARCH CENTRE DEDICATED TO THE STUDY OF SOCIO-POLITICAL, SECURITY, AND ECONOMIC TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND ITS WIDER GEOSTRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 00 AContent 07-08 p1-3.indd 1 6/26/08 5:17:38 PM 00 AContent 07-08 p1-3.indd 2 6/26/08 5:17:38 PM Contents Executive Summary 4 Mission Statement 9 Organizational Structure 10 International Advisory Panel (IAP) 14 Research Programmes and Activities 15 Public Affairs Unit 43 Publications Unit 49 Library 52 Administration 61 Computer Unit 62 Appendices 63 I Research Staff 64 II Visiting Researchers and Affiliates 71 III Fellowships and Scholarship Recipients 80 IV Public Lectures, Conferences, and Seminars 81 V New Publications by ISEAS, 2007–08 91 VI Donations, Grants, Contributions, and Fees Received 93 Audited Financial Statements 95 00 AContent 07-08 p1-3.indd 3 6/26/08 5:17:38 PM Executive Summary he FY2007/08 was an exceptionally busy Studies Centre within ISEAS. Headed by former T period for ISEAS, given the overlap of two ASEAN Secretary-General Rodolfo C. Severino, anniversary years — marked by the 40th the Centre seeks to offer support to the ASEAN anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN and the Secretariat on how ASEAN can achieve closer 40th anniversary of the founding of ISEAS. ISEAS economic, political and socio-cultural integration. remained engaged in a wide range of research and study on Southeast Asia and its geopolitical and Research on the politics, economics, and societies economic interactions with its broader environment, of Southeast Asia both on an individual country particularly the major powers. The work was basis and on a regional basis has always been undertaken not just by in-house scholars but also a core part of the research agenda of ISEAS. by tapping a range of expertise from outside, both Among the projects completed or were ongoing in Singapore and abroad, with ISEAS research staff were Malaysia’s foreign policy, Dr Mahathir and often serving as anchors or facilitators of projects. his legacy, political Islam in Indonesia, Southeast Asian countries’ relations with China, the security There was considerable policy-related work done dynamics between South and Southeast Asia, the on Southeast Asian and East Asian regionalism. It rise of Asian maritime power in the 21st century included a project for the ASEAN Secretariat that and its implications for Southeast Asia, identified options and made recommendations globalization and its counter-forces in Southeast for financial cooperation among the East Asia Asia, financing issues for an ageing society in Summit (EAS) countries; a study with policy Southeast Asia and issues relating to migrant recommendations, done in collaboration with workers. The annual Vietnam Update and Japanese and Indian think-tanks, on economic Myanmar Update, highly regarded in the scholarly integration of the EAS region; and a study aimed community, continued to be done in collaboration at identifying the policy challenges facing attempts with the Australian National University. Other to build a robust financial architecture for East important issues relating to specific countries Asia. ASEAN’s relations with its dialogue partners as well as the region as a whole were examined remained an important area of interest and the year through many seminars and forums on the politics saw the holding of forums on ASEAN-U.S. and and economies of Southeast Asian countries, ASEAN-Korea relations. including a Brunei Forum which was organized jointly with the Brunei Economic Development The importance accorded to ASEAN-related work Board. A major conference was organized was reflected in the establishment of an ASEAN on “Early Indian influences in Southeast Asia: 4 01 AExe.Sum p4-13.indd 4 6/26/08 5:24:17 PM Reflections on Cross-Cultural Movements” with APEC related activities — networking with the the objective of enhancing understanding of the APEC Secretariat and APEC Study Centres around cultural linkages between India and Southeast the region, and attending the annual APEC Study Asia. The papers presented will be published as Centres Consortium meetings. a book. At the same time ISEAS has maintained a very In addition to ISEAS’ core political, economic active publications programme. It has continued and social studies programmes, clusters of to produce its three journals (Contemporary interdisciplinary research have been developed. Southeast Asia, ASEAN Economic Bulletin, and The ISEAS environment studies cluster was SOJOURN) as well as the annual Southeast expanded in 2007 into an Environment and Climate Asian Affairs. These publications, which take Change cluster which has launched a seminar considerable time and effort to produce, as well series by scholars, policy-makers and practitioners as the research output in the form of books, have to disseminate expert views on these increasingly maintained the international reputation of ISEAS important subjects. The Energy Studies cluster in Southeast Asian studies. During the year ISEAS continues to organize numerous seminars and will published or co-published more than 60 titles. continue to do so jointly with the newly established Six ISEAS books were also translated into four Energy Studies Institute at the NUS. A conference languages — Bahasa Indonesia, Malay, Jawi on energy efficiency was also organized. The and Chinese. In commemoration of ISEAS’ 40th Gender Studies cluster organized seminars on anniversary the publications unit issued a CD-ROM gender issues and a study on migrant women 40 Years of Publishing. from Indonesia, including domestic workers, is being undertaken with focus on pre-departure The ISEAS Library participated actively in programmes for these workers. On Singapore, commemorating the 40th anniversary of ISEAS by there is a project to do book-length biographies contributing display and souvenir items as well as of Singapore’s first generation leaders, with publishing a new library guide. The permanent S. biographies on Mr S. Rajaratnam, Dr Goh Keng Rajaratnam exhibition in a prominent corner of the Swee, Dr Toh Chin Chye and Mr Lim Kim San in library was launched by President S.R. Nathan on the pipeline. 8 April 2007. A measure of the library’s growing usage among readers is the 133 per cent increase Since the APEC Study Centre is located in ISEAS, over the previous year, in the hit rate of its SEALion the Institute continues to be actively involved in online catalogue. 5 01 AExe.Sum p4-13.indd 5 6/26/08 5:24:21 PM ISEAS researchers provided briefings on regional Marshall — Singapore’s first Chief Minister and and international issues, to visiting policy-makers second Chairman of ISEAS Board of Trustees. and scholars from think-tanks of other countries; In commemoration, ISEAS together with the regional academic and policy advisory bodies; the National Library Board, the Academy of Law, the diplomatic community; the business community; MFA Diplomatic Academy and the Jewish Welfare and national institutions in Singapore. Board, Singapore, organized a symposium on 12 March 2008 on Marshall’s life and legacy. The The extensive public outreach activities of the event witnessed one of the highest turnouts of Institute were reflected in the many public lectures, Singapore VIPs including President S. R. Nathan, forums and seminars on a whole host of subjects. Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong and Minister of They enabled the wider public to participate in the Foreign Affairs George Yeo. intellectual life of the Institute. The highlights of public events included the 2007 ASEAN lecture During the year ISEAS also launched the Southeast delivered by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Asia Lecture series to enable prominent Southeast to mark the 40th anniversary of ASEAN and a Asian personalities, other than heads of state and gala dinner in January 2008 on the eve of the heads of government, to speak on Southeast Asian annual Regional Outlook Forum to mark the 40th subjects. The inaugural Southeast Asia Lecture anniversary of ISEAS, which featured a dialogue was delivered by His Royal Highness Prince session with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. The Mohammed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Outlook Forum 2008, a flagship event of Trade, Brunei Darussalam. ISEAS, was attended, as in the past, by over 500 people from the corporate sector, the diplomatic The rest of 2008 and 2009 promise to be hectic corps, academia and the public sector. years in the life of this four-decade-old research institute. The 40th anniversary year of ISEAS also coincided with the centenary of the birth of David 6 01 AExe.Sum p4-13.indd 6 6/26/08 5:24:27 PM H.E. President S.R. Nathan browsing a scrapbook of newspaper articles compiled by the ISEAS Library on Mr S. Rajaratnam, Singapore’s first Foreign Minister. Looking on are Ambassador Kesavapany, Director of ISEAS, and Ms Ch’ng Kim See, Head of ISEAS Library. Earlier in the day on 9 April 2007, the President had launched a permanent exhibition at the ISEAS Library to commemorate Mr Rajaratam’s lifetime achievements and career, and a display of Mr Rajaratnam’s collection of books donated by his family. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, responding to questions from the audience at the 2007 ASEAN Lecture, chaired by Ambassador K. Kesavapany, Director of ISEAS, on 7 August 2007. 7 01 AExe.Sum p4-13.indd 7 6/26/08 5:24:40 PM Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew being welcomed by Professor Wang Gungwu, Chairman, ISEAS Board of Trustees, and Ambassador K.